April 2008 - AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

COSMONAUTICS DAY 12th APRIL SPECIAL CALLSIGN GB0CD ON AIR
by Robert Turlington 06 Apr '08

06 Apr '08

HI ALL JOHN G7HIA AND MYSELF WILL BE USING THE SPECIAL CALL SIGN GB0CD 'COSMONAUTICS DAY' ON THE 12th APRIL 2008 BETWEEN 0800 &2200 hrs UTC ON AO7,AO16,AO27,SO50,AO51 & VO52 DETAILS TO FOLLOW LATER ON IN THE WEEK. SOME OPERATION MAY TAKE PLACE OVER THE FOLLOWING 4 WEEKS WITH PROPOSED SSTV AND OTHER MODES POSSIBLY FIELD HELL Regards Robert G8ATE _________________________________________________________________ The next generation of Windows Live is here http://www.windowslive.co.uk/get-live

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AO-51 Mode S Antenna question
by Ronald Nutter 06 Apr '08

06 Apr '08

I have one of the K5GNA modified downconverters with the corner reflector attached. Since starting to set my satellite station back up, this is one area that I hadnt addressed. I have my antennas mounted to a Channel Master rotor on a commercial TV tripod. The antennas are angled at about 25 degrees because of some ground clutter, trees, etc that I have to shoot over to get to the satellites. With this setup, can I mount the Mode S downcoverter and have a reasonable chance at getting it to work or should I look at some type of patch antenna to get better signal picket ? Is mode S a little less unforgiving so that I have to have it more directed at the satellite than I can get away with on my current VHF/UHF antenna setup ? Thanks, Ron KA4KYI

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SO-50 67 khz?
by w0dxz＠aol.com 05 Apr '08

05 Apr '08

Does SO-50 still require the? 67khz tone on input? I am gong to try it for the first time. Bob W0DXZ? DM33

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Re: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 3, Issue 171
by John Kopala 05 Apr '08

05 Apr '08

Yes, SO-50 requires a 67 Hz PL tone. Note that the satellite receiver is turned on by a 74 Hz PL tone and stays on for 10 minutes. After turning it on, if it is not already on, switch back to the 67 Hz tone to talk. Be aware that if you are talking through the bird and no longer hear the downlink, the 10 minutes since the last time it was activated may have expired. If so, just turn it on again. John - N7JK Subject: [amsat-bb] SO-50 67 khz? To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Message-ID: <8CA655E76661585-1754-1BFA(a)webmail-nb12.sysops.aol.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Does SO-50 still require the? 67khz tone on input? I am gong to try it for the first time. Bob W0DXZ? DM33

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HT debate
by andy thomas 05 Apr '08

05 Apr '08

This morning I successfully QSO'd with ON4ASG in jo10nx through AO-51 using a HT that I bought in Jinan, China for the equivalent of £12 or 25USD. It's called a PU GUANG PG-5118 and has 2.5 watts out from a Li-ion battery (no CTCSS though). Similar rigs are on ebay. I was using my Arrow of course, and an adaptor to change the SMA male antenna plug on the HT to BNC, on a 67 degree pass. Downlink was heard full duplex on another cheap radio, Hora C408, costing about £40-50 here, tuning in 5kHz steps. Runs on 2 AA cells. No desensing whatsoever. Bit fiddly to doppler tune a second rig, and the tape ran out before the end (!), so lost IW8RRF. Watch out for an announcement coming up soon about EW/G0SFJ! 73 de andy G0SFJ ___________________________________________________________ Yahoo! For Good helps you make a difference http://uk.promotions.yahoo.com/forgood/

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Looking for 10 Mtr loop info
by Ronald Nutter 05 Apr '08

05 Apr '08

I am trying to put together an antenna for AO-7 downlink on 10 meters. At one point I had a copy of an article from an older AMSAT journal but due to a move last year across country, I seem to have misplaced it. Does anyone happen to have a copy they can share with me ? I am trying to get fluent with the SSB birds prior to Field Day since the FM birds will pretty be useless that weekend. Thanks, Ron KA4KYI

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2M1EUB/P qrv io87rj on sats
by paul robinson 05 Apr '08

05 Apr '08

Hi group ill be qrv once again from io87rj near aberdeen scotland from 12.04.08 for 7 days. its not an easy location for stateside but possible,if you wish to work me ,please be quick as only a small window for USA! would also be good to work some new calls from the states!! Europe window is ok! Ill be on all birds but mainly ao7 ssb .i will also be 160 and 80m as well as some hf ssb! check out the qrz web page under 2m1eub ,theres a nice photo and info.qsl is via home call 2e1eub.73 de paul amsat uk/na member --------------------------------- Yahoo! for Good helps you make a difference

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Delfi3C
by G0MRF＠aol.com 05 Apr '08

05 Apr '08

From: _http://www.delfic3.nl/photoblog/_ (http://www.delfic3.nl/photoblog/) Provisional launch date April 21st April 4th, 2008 Greetings from the clean room at Sriharikota! The Delfi-C3 checkout team has safely arrived at the launch site in India, and we are currently performing all checks on the spacecraft. So far, everything goes as planned and we have found no problems. It is great to meet the other teams and see all the other spacecraft which accompany Delfi-C3 on the launch, everyone is excited and can’t wait to see their satellite fly. Unfortunately, photography is not allowed on the base so you’ll have to use your imagination for now:) Meanwhile, we will try to keep you updated by posting text-only blog entries. At this very moment, the team is building up the satellite into launch configuration, which means attaching the solar panels, the wireless sun sensors, and applying the final pieces of thermal tape and locking glue. All major health checks have been successfully completed up to this point so we know the spacecraft is in good health. Furthermore, the linear transponder was tested for the last time before launch, and it worked just fine. Tomorrow is the last day we can work before we have two days off due to Indian national holidays. Frequencies: * Primary telemetry downlink: 145.870 MHz 1200 Baud BPSK AX.25 400mW * Backup telemetry downlink: 145.930 MHz 1200 Baud BPSK AX.25 400mW * Linear transponder passband downlink: 145.880 - 145.920 MHz (inverting) 400mW PEP * Linear transponder passband uplink: 435.570 - 435.530 MHz * Transponder mode beacon: 145.870 MHz CW (10dB below transponder PEP)

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Re: Delfi3C
by Wouter Jan Ubbels 05 Apr '08

05 Apr '08

Hi David & the rest of the BB, yes we have safely arrived in India, I am currently sitting next to the spacecraft as I type this e-mail:) So far, everything is going well with the checkout. We also did a successful transponder test yesterday. You might also want to check our weblog at http://www.delfic3.nl/photoblog where we will post updates, photos are not possible since photography is not allowed here. 73, Wouter Jan Ubbels VU/PE4WJ

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Re: Delfi3C
by Wouter＠delfic3.nl 05 Apr '08

05 Apr '08

Hi David & the rest of the BB, yes we have safely arrived in India, I am currently sitting next to the spacecraft as I type this e-mail:) So far, everything is going well with the checkout. We also did a successful transponder test yesterday. You might also want to check our weblog at http://www.delfic3.nl/photoblog where we will post updates, photos are not possible since photography is not allowed here. 73 de VU/PE4WJ

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EggBeater II antennas
by Jeff Moore 05 Apr '08

05 Apr '08

Hi there, I've just recently started working some of the sats (AO-51, SO-50, and AO-27 so far). I'm using a 2m mobile with a vertical ground-plane for uplink and a 6 element yagi with HT for downlink. I've been wondering how effective the Eggbeater II antenna design would be for the downlink (70cm). Anyone using this antenna design to work the satellites? Any advice appreciated. Thanks and 73, Jeff Moore -- KE7ACY CN94ib Bend, Oregon

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Preamp for a Mobile Application
by Kent R. Frazier 05 Apr '08

05 Apr '08

Hi all, I am really enjoying the satellite aspect of the hobby and have enjoyed the contacts I have made with my Icom IC-2720H with a 19" whip antenna from my vehicle. I have seen talk recently of using a preamp to improve the reception. From what I've read and understand, it appears that a "switching" preamp is needed for a setup using only one antenna for Tx and Rx such as mine. Is this correct? It also appears that most of the preamps are mast mounted. Since this would not be an option for me can the preamp be put near the transceiver? Are there any issues that result of doing so? Lastly, what preamp(s) would you recommend for an application such as mine? Thanks, Kent -- Kent R. Frazier, K5KNT

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Re: Best HT's for sats?
by Bill Dzurilla 05 Apr '08

05 Apr '08

Dan, Thanks for uploading the paper, very helpful. Guess no one rig can please everyone, but what is it about the FT-530 that makes it "very awkward to operate"? Drew KO4MA gave the FT-530 high praise in his post. I could never hear my downlink on the IC-W32A I borrowed for Swan Island, and if you can't use it to work full duplex, might as well buy a brand new FT-60 for about the same price as the W32A sells for on eBay. Also, you can't work the ISS with an unmodified W32A, as it won't transmit below 440 mhz. I know it's possible to hear your downlink on the FM birds with some rigs, because many have written about it. I've had no luck with 3 different rigs, even with separate radios and separate antennas. No problem for me to work duplex on AO-7 and VO-52, must be the third harmonic that is the issue with AO-51, AO-27, and SO-50. A lot of folks seem to like the Kenwood TH-D7A, but the price tag is quite high for a radio that is "very delicate," "extremely difficult to program," and "poor battery life". 73, Bill NZ5N >>Posted by: "Dan O'Barr" kl7dr(a)yahoo.com kl7dr Thu Apr 3, 2008 9:13 pm (PDT) I uplaoded my white paper on the best Walkie-Talkies to operate the LEO Amateur satellites. >>You can access this file at the URL: http://groups. yahoo.com/ group/fm-satellite/files/Best%20Walkie-Talkies.doc 73, Dan O, KL7DR ____________________________________________________________________________________ You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost. http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text5.com

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cross boom?
by w0dxz＠aol.com 05 Apr '08

05 Apr '08

In putting together my antenna,?? (144-432)I need something to use as a horizontal- cross? support boom. What would be the best length, and,? what would be the minimum length,,,? would 6? ft separation be OK?? To minimize problems, should I mount one beam horizontal, one vertical? Does it matter which one, is? which way? I doubt I can find a fiberglas boom locally,,,? what else could I use?? or, where can I order a fiberglas boom? thanks Bob W0DXZ

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Re: Best HT's for sats?
by Andrew Glasbrenner 04 Apr '08

04 Apr '08

Bill, The 530 lets you select one band as the transmit band, and the other as the band that the dial tunes. Simply set the 2m side to the 2m uplink, the 70cm to the downlink + expected doppler shift, set the sub band tune to tune the 70cm side, and then when you push the ptt it will transmit on 2m. The only thing you'll need to touch during the pass is the main tuning knob, and the PTT. This feature is only on the 530, on the 470 you have to swap bands, tune, then swap back before transmitting. With the 470 figure on doing this 5 times on a long pass, and I was always able to do it with one hand, even with gloves standing knee deep in snow in South Dakota. To answer an earlier question (or to not answer it) I've never had the need or desire to operate a full duplex rig where the receive band mutes on tx. There are cheap earphones that work for full duplex just about everywhere. I still use a pair I picked up for free from JetBlue two years ago. If I'm doing a demo where I want others to hear, like at a hamfest, I have an extension speaker from MFJ (read CHEAP) that I screwed a belt clip from an old cell phone onto, so that it clips to the back of my belt facing the other way from me. This and careful volume control will normally prevent it from squealing due to feedback. Think about this...full duplex means you can tweak your antenna orientation WHILE transmitting for max signal. All the FM microsats use a single whip for receive, meaning a linear yagi like the Arrow will have ~20db!!! of variation on the uplink due to cross polarization. If on your next dxpedition, would you bring along a 500w amp if it only had the size and weight of a pair of earbud headphones? 73, Drew KO4MA ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Dzurilla" <billdz.geo(a)yahoo.com> To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Friday, April 04, 2008 8:20 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Best HT's for sats? You mean you have to switch to the receive VFO and then switch back to the uplink VFO every time we need to make a Doppler correction? It's not cold here in Florida, but I can sure see how that would be annoying. Andrew said the FT-530 has a "subband tune function," what about that? 73, Bill > --- Dan O'Barr <kl7dr(a)yahoo.com> wrote: > > > Hi Rafael and Bill, > > > > That's the issue with the FT-530, and it's the > same > > with the Alinco DJ-580. > > They are both very good radios for full duplex. If > > you are in a warm climate, > > and do not have to wear gloves, then all the > button > > pushing to change back and > > forth between VHF for transmitting and then to UHF > > for receiving and changing > > frequencies for Doppler, then it's no big deal. > > However, up here the ability to > > just program 5 spit channels, like the VX-7R, > makes > > it a lot easier to work a > > pass. I believe the FT-51 has the capability of > > working full duplex with a > > setting that allows the operator to transmit on > one > > band and receive and tune > > on the other. ____________________________________________________________________________________ You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost. http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text5.com _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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AO7 PH7PCF
by k3szh＠netzero.net 04 Apr '08

04 Apr '08

Great job and congratulation Aldert on your 1000 plus qso's on AO7, it's a wonderful satellite on which we can actually have a meaningful qso.I am glad to be one of your many friends to be part of that. 73 Joe Amsat 3788 _____________________________________________________________ Own the Ultimate Platinum Credit Card. Click here. http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2221/fc/Ioyw6i4tDlh8nJcx8oh1fYl100Tk…

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Easy to make, low cost omni-directional antennae
by Graeme Nelson 04 Apr '08

04 Apr '08

Hi all, I'm wanting to make an antenna for "talking with the birds", mainly ISS and LEOs. Thank you to Don ZL1THO and John KB2HSH for the suggestions and encouragement they have already e-mailed me. I have done some more thinking since then and come up with the following list of criteria for the first antenna I make for satellite work: * easy to make * lost cost * omni-directional * good performance, especially for satellite work, without moving it * portable enough that I can pack it into the van when I go on holiday and it won't take up much space (it needs to share the space with all the stuff for my wife and 3 children, as well as me). It would also be nice to be able to store it in the corner of my office at work if I so desire. When I started looking in earnest last Friday, a ham colleague of mine did a Google search an came across a turnstile antenna that looked promising (http://www.wb8erj.com/turnstile_antenna.htm). That evening, I noticed the eggbeater on the web site of John KB2HSH (http://kb2hsh.blogspot.com/), which looks nice and easy to build. I then did some searching and came upon the Eggbeater II by Jerry K5OE (http://members.aol.com/k5oejerry/eggbeater2.htm), arguably a better fixed antenna for satellite use than the original eggbeater. A while later, I also found the EZ-Lindenblad by Tony AA2TX (http://www.arrl.org/qst/2007/08/monteiro.pdf). I am currently leaning towards the EZ-Lindenblad (for 2m) and a parasitic Lindenblad (for 70cm ... when I get hold of the design; I intend to e-mail Tony about it if/when I go ahead with the EZ-Lindenblad). How do these antennae compare performance-wise? Am I leaning in the right direction (EZ-Lindenblad), or should I be looking at something else? Your input would be much appreciated. TTFN., Graeme ZL2GDN

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G-5500 rotor schematic source?
by Joel Kandel 04 Apr '08

04 Apr '08

Anyone happen to know a source of a schematic for the Yaesu G-5500 rotor pair? Thanks, Joel Kandel, KI4T

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Re: Re-purposing ATVs
by GW1FKY＠aol.com 04 Apr '08

04 Apr '08

Hi Guys, I am not being negative and "Yes if Only" - However there is more than the provision of amateur radio equipment and antennas to consider. It would not meet with the original objectives for the spacecraft - Apart from the consideration of the rubbish on board it would become another piece of "junk" in space and therefore a hazard especially when it starts to fall into the orbit paths of other spacecraft. Someone would have to be responsible to monitor and control this aspect which among many other considerations would I regret mean it would be rejected. Don't forget that this is only the first of a number of these spacecraft to be launched and the past few weeks with the dummy runs being used as part of a procedure for the future. This area alone must have cost a significant amount time and money for the Safety Cases,Risk Assessment, documentation ,training etc. etc. etc. I regret to say I do not think that we would have any positive agreement for a re-run of these costs just for the sake of amateur radio. I am sure that the "SuitSat" team and others participating in some of our projects could confirm the way things have changed since our earlier days. The process and current difficulties in time and costs now do mean it is very hard going for our hobby sad to say. Ideas are always worth listening to and also prove a useful learning curve to all, so thanks for your proposal and I really do wish that it could be adopted. Ken Eaton GW1FKY Amsat -UK Amsat NA

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Best HT's for sats?
by Bill Dzurilla 03 Apr '08

03 Apr '08

I've made many sat contacts with my VX-2R but am thinking about upgrading to something with 5 watts output. I used a borrowed IC-W32A and Swan Island and it worked fine, although I could not hear my downlink in full duplex mode, too much desensing. Not sure full duplex is even worth the extra money, as it seems that most duplex HTs have a similar desensing problem. I was thinking about trading in the VX-2R for an FT-60 or a VX-6R, any comments on these or other sat-friendly HTs? 73, Bill NZ5N ____________________________________________________________________________________ You rock. That's why Blockbuster's offering you one month of Blockbuster Total Access, No Cost. http://tc.deals.yahoo.com/tc/blockbuster/text5.com

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antenna opinion?
by W0DXZ＠aol.com 03 Apr '08

03 Apr '08

I am going to put up a simple satellite antenna system. Simple means, that I won't be able to control the polarization, I am going to use linear 144-432 beams. I will be able to rotate AZ of course, AND elevation. Question is,,, how big of beams (how much gain) do I need for each band. I don't want the pattern to be so tight I am constantly changing the rotor,,, would something like 8 ele on 2 and 16 el on 432 do the job? I can use a pre-amp on receive (separate coax lines) Any recommendations for antennas? I just don't want to go through polarization switching. And,,, would it be any benefit to turn the beams somewhere between horizontal and vertical,,, at a 45 degree angle, for polarization? Or is that a waste of time, or would it make things worse. Bob W0DXZ DM-33 AZ **************Planning your summer road trip? Check out AOL Travel Guides. (http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/united-states?ncid=aoltrv00030000000016)

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Re: Best HT's for sats?
by John Marranca, Jr 03 Apr '08

03 Apr '08

TH-D7A. Full Duplex...AND APRS capable. Ordering mine tomorrow. John KB2HSH -- _______________________________ John Marranca, Jr PBX Technician/Shop Steward CWA Local 1122 BN Systems, Inc Orchard Park, NY (716)972-2006

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Re: Re-purposing ATVs
by richard＠g3rwl.demon.co.uk 03 Apr '08

03 Apr '08

> I was reading about the Jules Verne docking at the ISS today and all of a sudden it occurred to me: instead of using the spacecraft fuel to de-orbit, what if it was placed in a higher orbit, and there was a ham package on board? What a wonderful idea. > You might convince ESA to linger a bit before deorbit to conduct some experimentation using amateur radio but I suspect they will want to clear that double decker bus sized satellite from the sky. And what goes up comes down. Bump Jules Verne up to 500km and it'll be back down at the ISS altitude in about ten years; if theres enough fuel for 1000 km the chances get better. But they'd probably want an inclination change at the very least. 73 Richard G3RWL

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Re-purposing ATVs
by wa6ilt＠verizon.net 03 Apr '08

03 Apr '08

I was reading about the Jules Verne docking at the ISS today and all of a sudden it occurred to me: instead of using the spacecraft fuel to de-orbit, what if it was placed in a higher orbit, and there was a ham package on board? Dave Reinhart wa6ilt(a)amsat.org

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Re-purposing ATVs
by RFI-EMI-GUY 03 Apr '08

03 Apr '08

Decomposing garbage could provide fuel for a thermoelectric generator as well as gas for station keeping jets. ------------------------------ Message: 16 Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2008 11:23:16 -0700 From: "Jeff Moore" <tnetcenter(a)gmail.com> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Re-purposing ATVs To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Message-ID: <00fb01c895b7$cdddd440$f6ab0048@TNTCENTER> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" They have to fill it with garbage first :-) Jeff Moore -- KE7ACY ----- Original Message ----- From: <wa6ilt(a)verizon.net> I was reading about the Jules Verne docking at the ISS today and all of a sudden it occurred to me: instead of using the spacecraft fuel to de-orbit, what if it was placed in a higher orbit, and there was a ham package on board? Dave Reinhart wa6ilt(a)amsat.org -- Joe Leikhim K4SAT "The RFI-EMI-GUY"© "Treason doth never prosper: what's the reason? For if it prosper, none dare call it treason." "Follow The Money" ;-P

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